Kids Kampus recipient of Matching Grant

Posted: Friday, April 15, 2016

Pathfinder Kids Kampus has been awarded a $34,000 per year grant from the Family Social Services Agency for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 pre-school year. The funds will be used to expand the current pre-school program to serve ten additional children who will attend for free based on income qualifications.

Pathfinder Kids Kampus is one of 20 organizations from 18 different Indiana counties to be awarded the Early Education Matching Grant (EEMG). These grants will help recipients provide quality early education for low-income four-year-old children in Indiana. Kids Kampus has been offering this program in Huntington since 2014.

“The EEMG program is an important tool toward increased school readiness and academic success for low-income children in Indiana,” said Nicole Norvell, director of Indiana’s Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning. “The grants leverage public and private investments within high-quality community-based programs, including school-based, faith-based and non-profit early learning programs.”

The EEMG program, established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2013, allows high-quality, early child care and education programs such as Kids Kampus to apply for matching funds to serve four-year-old children from families whose incomes are below federal poverty guidelines. Applicants for EEMG were required to have already achieved Level 3 or Level 4 in Paths to QUALITY TM, Indiana’s voluntary child care quality rating and improvement system. Pathfinder Kids Kampus is a level 3 Paths to Quality provider.

Pathfinder Kids Kampus Administrator, Jodie Clark commented, “This grant will allow us to offer our pre-school program to children who might not otherwise receive these school readiness skills. We continue to receive inquiries from families wanting their children to participate, so we are excited that this grant will allow them to do so.”

To qualify for the program at Kids Kampus, the child must be four years of age by August 1, 2016 and the family must meet income guidelines. The 2016 and 2017 program follows the HCCSC calendar and takes place Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Families can receive more information or apply at Kids Kampus, 435 Campus Street or by calling (260) 356-0123.

Donations for the matching funds required for the Early Education Matching Grant for Pathfinder Kids Kampus are being accepted at www.pathfinderservices.org (click donate) or by calling (260) 356-0100.